The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation announced today that data presented at the 13th annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Copenhagen, Denmark continues to demonstrate significant advances in the treatment of higher–risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The data showed that treatment with azacitidine (VIDAZA) instead of conventional care regimens (CCR), such as chemotherapy with Ara–C, can help patients to live longer with a better quality of life.
At this year´s congress, Professor Valeria Santini, of the University of Florence, Italy, presented data which showed that azacitidine provided a significant overall survival benefit for patients with higher–risk MDS regardless of whether patients were treated with low–dose Ara–C or best supportive care in the control arm.
The analysis pooled survival outcomes from patients in several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Sweden, Greece and the Netherlands, and found the survival benefit for azacitidine across all countries was 24.4 months versus 15 months compared to the controls.
Additionally at the congress, Professor Pierre Fenaux, of the University of Paris, France, presented results of a sub–analysis of a large, randomized phase III trial (AZA–001) evaluating azacitidine in patients with high–risk MDS. Previously reported results from the AZA–001 trial showed that azacitidine was the first MDS treatment to extend overall survival in MDS patients compared to CCR.
The sub–analysis presented at EHA evaluated a sub–group of patients who were pre–selected to receive low dose Ara–C and confirmed earlier results from the trial demonstrating that there was still significant survival benefit in patients who received azacitidine when the therapy was directly compared to Ara–C.
"The data presented at this year´s EHA Congress are exciting for patients and reinforce the role that the new therapies play in the treatment of MDS," said Kathy Heptinstall, Operating Director of the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, "We are excited about future studies of epigenetic therapies, like azacitidine, which are significant advances over the conventional care currently available to patients with MDS in Europe."
During the conference, the MDS Foundation also hosted a Quality of Life Forum for MDS patients, family, and friends. Discussions centered on the difficulties faced by people living with MDS including transfusion dependence, loss of life control, and the effect that new therapies have had on the lives of MDS patients. Dr. Lars Kjeldson presented information about MDS and the current state of research and answered questions from the participants. This is the 56th Patient and Family Forum that the Foundation has conducted worldwide.
On Thursday, June 11 the Foundation presented a symposium focused on the changes in the morphologic diagnosis of MDS. Dr. Jean E. Goaguen, of the University of Rennes in Rennes, France, and Dr. John M. Bennett, of the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, presented a compelling, interactive program to more than 400 participants utilizing Virtual Microscopy, an innovative technology. Re–educating hematopathologists and clinicians to better recognize morphologic changes will benefit MDS patients by providing more precise classification of disease state and better treatment stratification. This continuing education program is available at the MDS Foundation´s website: www.mds–foundation.org.
MDS is a cancer in which the bone marrow fails to make enough functioning blood cells, either red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. It is not known exactly how many people have MDS, however, about 20,000 to 25,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the U.S. In addition, roughly 30 percent of patients diagnosed with MDS will progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
About the MDS Foundation
The Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, Inc. is a multi–disciplinary, international organization devoted to the prevention, treatment, and study of the myelodysplastic syndromes. The organization is based upon the premise that international cooperation will accelerate the process leading to the control and cure of these diseases. For further information, please visit http://www.mds–foundation.org.